The Washington critic., 1887-12-15
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
A Chicago Man Who Has Big Faith
in 0menS.
THE SPECIAL SESSION OF 1860.
Interesting "Reminiscences Of That
Memorable Period.

"The special session of Congress in
1850, with oil its excitement, was not
without its fun" said well known
citizen of Washington to G. II. w. of
the Cleveland Leader tho other day.
''The Speaker was Pennington Of New
Jersey, who had been chosen, after n
long deadlock, as compromise candi-
date. He was an old man, almost in
his dotage, and utterly unfit to preside
over such a body of men as the House
Of Representatives. There was bright
page, named Thad.' Morris, who was
regarded as one of the ablest parlia-
mentarians in. the hall. lie was made
what was then termed Speakers page,
the duties Of the position requiring of
him that he be always at the beck and
call of the Speaker. He was ap-
pointed to the position solely be-
cause Of his wonderful knowledge
of parliamentary law. Constantly,
while the Speaker was in the
chair, 'Thad.' would stand at his
elbow and prompt him in making rul-
ings, and the boy was really the Speaker
of the House. Sometimes he wanted to
say something sub-rosa to the Speaker,
in reference to question that called for
ruling-an explanation, or some
thing of the kind--and Pennington, par
rotlike, would Immediately blurt 1t out
as his ruling causing everybody to roar
with laughter. Pennington never waited
to hear the finish of what "Thad.' would
say, but Immediately repeated every
thing in the way have described, and
thus he frequently made ludicrous mis-
takes. "Thad.' Morris was very bright
young fellow, but rum killed him. He
died at an early age drunkard's S death.
Sin that same Congress was certain
Southerner, Louisianian, who, though
an ardent pro-slavery man would not
take part in the rebellion because he
took no stock in the doctrine of seccs-
sion. He was very often in II
boozy condition. The restaurant pro-
prietor did not have n moro liberal GUS
toner than this man. One night when
the House was in Committee of the
Whole, and the Member was in his
usual mood, Van Wyck of New York,
who has since been Senator from
Nebraska-I think he is the man-put
our friend up to make motion to lay
the question under the table '"Mr.
Chem'n,' shouted he, j move (hic) that
the (hic) question be laid un- (hic) I'M
der the table another Member who
was also in for fun offered as a substitute
that the gentleman from Louisiana be
laid under the table instead of the ques-
ton under discussion The motion was
carried almost unanimously, and the
House roared with laughter.
~
"Omens are curious things" said
Warren Leland. at Willard's, few
nights ago. people are impressed by
omens to a much greater extent than
they are willing to confess; but for one
] am free TO admit that omens exercise
very strong influence upon me. TO il
lustrate: When the Chicago delegation
visited Washington four years ago to Sc
cure, If possible, the location of the Re-
publican Convention of 1854, we were
confronted by many obstacles, seem
ingly difficult if not impossible to over.
come. We worked energetically and
intelligently, but our chances hung in
the balance, and we all felt very blue,
especially myself. When the Ma.
tional Committee met at the Arlington
and were engaged in settling the pre-.
liminaries, l walked over to the adjoin.
ing public square containing the eques,
trian statue of General Mcpherson, and
watched the swallows flying about and
twittering as they entered and emerged
from their nests in the stirrup-holes and
other places about the statue. The sky
was lowering, and, as / gazed upon the
birds, a beam of sunshine suddenly
shone through the clouds directly across
80 f,nA S,ct L, tnt, Il .ta1 t,,e,n a
happy omen, returned at once TO the
hear the ballot announced that Chicago
had won. at is somewhat singular
continues Mr.. Leland, 'that this expert
ence should have been repeated under
almost similar circumstances. You know
that the Republican League Club House
at the corner of Massachusetts ave
nue. and Fourteenth street, over
looks the heroic equestrian statue
of General George II. Thomas
situated in the centre of what is known
ss "Thomas Circle.' On Thursday af
ternoon, when things looked very doubt
full for Chicago and we were all on tn,
tenterhooks of anxiety lest the commit
tee might adjourn, which would hav,
been fatal to Chicago as we understood
II, walked to the front door and gaze,
reflectively upon the bronze counterfeit
presentment of the old hero, George II
Thomas. 1t had been raining prett,
hard and the sky was filed with gath
ering clouds which forbode sever,
storm. While looked the clouds sud
denly broke and CLEAN of bright sun
shine darted through and lit up the face
of the statue just for an instant, TIL,
impression made upon me was instan
taneous. 1t was nm omen in favor o